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Bulgaria demands compensation from Turkey for expelling Bulgarians in 1913

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  • Bulgaria demands compensation from Turkey for expelling Bulgarians in 1913


    Mr Dimitrov: Bulgaria says that it is owed the money due to a 1925 treaty (Photo: wikipedia)


    Bulgaria puts price on Turkey's EU membership

    ANDREW RETTMAN

    Today @ 17:19 CET

    EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Bulgaria is threatening to block Turkey's application to join the European Union unless it pays out billions of euros in compensation for displaced people, in a case dating back to the days of the Ottoman Empire.

    A Bulgarian cabinet minister without portfolio who runs the country's Agency for Bulgarians Abroad, Bojidar Dimitrov, pressed the claim in remarks to the Bulgarian newspaper, 24 Hours, on Sunday (3 January).

    "Turkey is surely able to pay this sum, after all, it's the 16th largest economic power in the world," he said, putting a sum of $20 billion (€14 billion) on the settlement. "One of the three conditions of Turkey's full membership of the EU is solving the problem of the real estate of Thracian refugees."

    The Ottoman Empire in 1913 expelled hundreds of thousands of ethnic Bulgarians from lands lying on the western side of the Bosphorus. It became the Republic of Turkey in 1923 and recognised the rights of the displaced people in a 1925 treaty, but the agreement was never implemented, Bulgaria says.

    An official in the Bulgarian government's press office, Veselin Ninov, told EUobserver on Monday that Mr Dimitrov's statement reflects government policy and that the dispute is being handled by a Bulgarian-Turkish intergovernmental working group.

    Mr Ninov mentioned a different sum, however.

    "This is a matter of official government policy. There is a contract between the two parties, dated 1925. This is an official contract, so, according to the contracting parties, the Turkish government has to repay $10 billion to $12 billion (€8 billion) to the Bulgarian refugees," he said.

    Mr Ninov described the issue as being "more historical than political."

    But when asked if Bulgaria is ready to veto progress in EU-Turkey negotiations because of the dispute, he said: "There is such an option. But this is just one of many other conditions of Bulgarian support for Turkish membership. There are also issues relating to energy and water management projects."

    Bulgarian prime minister Boyko Borissov is set to raise the compensation question during a visit to Turkey in January or February, Mr Ninov added.

    Turkey began EU accession talks in 2005 and has so far opened 12 out of 35 negotiating chapters.

    Its military occupation of northern Cyprus, an EU member, has so far proved the main stumbling block to progress. But the EU commission is also concerned about Turkey's respect for human rights, while Germany and France are opposed to Turkish EU entry on broader political grounds.

    The issue of historically displaced people has become increasingly disruptive since the EU's 2004 wave of enlargement.

    In a recent example, Czech president Vaclav Klaus last year tried to block ratification of the Lisbon Treaty unless the EU inserted a special clause ruling out compensation for Germans expelled from Czechoslovakia after World War II.

    The Turkish foreign ministry and the EU commission were unavailable for an immediate comment.

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  • #2
    Re: Bulgaria demands compensation from Turkey for expelling Bulgarians in 1913

    Bulgaria better not hold its breath. If the turks agree to this, and that is a HUGE if, they open up a whole can of worms for themselves.
    For the first time in more than 600 years, Armenia is free and independent, and we are therefore obligated
    to place our national interests ahead of our personal gains or aspirations.



    http://www.armenianhighland.com/main.html

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Bulgaria demands compensation from Turkey for expelling Bulgarians in 1913

      Originally posted by Armanen View Post
      Bulgaria better not hold its breath. If the turks agree to this, and that is a HUGE if, they open up a whole can of worms for themselves.
      Exactly what I was thinking. The floodgates will be opened, which is the very thing Turkey has been dreading for nearly 100 years. Regardless of whether this goes anywhere, or not, just the mere demand by Bulgaria alone has to have a major impact, because it's bringing light to the issue. Honestly, if I were Armenia, I would get in on the action right now! Take advantage of this window of opportunity to make a similar demand.

      Oh wait.....nevermind. I forgot we have a president that signs protocols and agreements which undermind the very existence of our nation. He wouldn't want to "jeopardize the progress" of reconciliation by doing something like that.

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Bulgaria demands compensation from Turkey for expelling Bulgarians in 1913

        Originally posted by Crimson Glow View Post
        Exactly what I was thinking. The floodgates will be opened, which is the very thing Turkey has been dreading for nearly 100 years. Regardless of whether this goes anywhere, or not, just the mere demand by Bulgaria alone has to have a major impact, because it's bringing light to the issue. Honestly, if I were Armenia, I would get in on the action right now! Take advantage of this window of opportunity to make a similar demand.

        Oh wait.....nevermind. I forgot we have a president that signs protocols and agreements which undermind the very existence of our nation. He wouldn't want to "jeopardize the progress" of reconciliation by doing something like that.

        Armenia and Armenians with influence should have pressed the RA to take turkey to the ICJ years ago. Yet, this didn't happen so now lets see what open borders will bring us. I for one don't think much would have happened even if the RA had taken turkey to court but I still would have liked to have seen it happen, you never know it could have benefited us. I'm also of the opinion that having our border with turkey opened will be a positive for our country and will increase the geopolitical clout of the RA. This year and the next will answer many of the questions presented to us by the signing of the Protocols.
        For the first time in more than 600 years, Armenia is free and independent, and we are therefore obligated
        to place our national interests ahead of our personal gains or aspirations.



        http://www.armenianhighland.com/main.html

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Bulgaria demands compensation from Turkey for expelling Bulgarians in 1913



          We were correct, Bulgaria, sadly, neither has the power nor the desire to take on turkey on this, and most other issues.
          For the first time in more than 600 years, Armenia is free and independent, and we are therefore obligated
          to place our national interests ahead of our personal gains or aspirations.



          http://www.armenianhighland.com/main.html

          Comment

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